Islamabad: Pakistan has extended its first-ever national cervical cancer vaccination campaign to enable more girls to get the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is known to protect against cervical cancer. This was decided after there were several provinces that reported that they could not reach their vaccination targets within the initial timeline.
One of the most prevalent cancers in women across the world is cervical cancer. It is primarily caused by HPV and is a virus that is transmitted through human contact. One of the best methods of prevention of the disease is vaccination at a young age particularly between 9 to 14 years of age. The Pakistani campaign has a goal of securing the lives of millions of girls so that they could grow into healthier beings with lower chances of cancer.
Extension of the campaign to the provinces
Sindh has already declared a three day extension and has shifted to the end of September.
Health officials in Islamabad are thinking of adding three to seven days.
Punjab and Azad Kashmir are also likely to continue with their vaccination campaigns at the same time.
This action serves as the sign of the desperate necessity to cover as many girls as possible and help the parents who failed to bring their children in the first schedule.
Challenges in the Drive
Although the campaign is a historic move in the right direction, there are challenges. It has been reported that over three million parents in Pakistan had rejected the vaccine in the initial stages of the drive. Most of these refusals were highest in Punjab, then Sindh, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad.
Experts suspect that such refusals are associated with the absence of awareness, some cultural reluctance, and some false beliefs regarding the vaccine. Health authorities are still emphasizing that the HPV vaccine is safe, effective and it is necessary to prevent cancer that takes thousands of women’s lives each year.
The Bigger Picture
Vaccination was launched in September with a grand target of over 11 million girls throughout the country. It is one of the most extensive school and community-based immunization campaigns in the country as the girls aged between 9 and 14 receive a single-dose vaccine.
Officials are optimistic regardless of the refusals. An expansion of the campaign will give another opportunity to target families, dispel false information, and save generations of women, who will grow up having another disease that can be prevented.
Long-Term Vision
The cervical cancer vaccination program is one of the numerous public health programs launched by Pakistan to curb cases of preventable diseases as well as enhancing the health of women and also in line with the international call by the World Health Organization (WHO). The government is through scaling up awareness and enhancing access to vaccines hoping to create a healthier and a more informed society.
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